At the Close of the Day, Pennsylvania 7 - 1911

Lewis Hine made this photograph, At the Close of the Day, Pennsylvania, with gelatin silver print, and you can really sense the grit of the process. The color palette is muted, almost monochromatic, highlighting the somber mood and the harsh conditions of the miners' world. Looking closely, the texture of the print itself is palpable. It's not just an image; it's an object, with a surface that seems to absorb light, much like the mine absorbs the miners. Note the contrast between the dark tunnel and the pale faces emerging, etched with weariness. The way Hine captures the subtle gradations of light and shadow, you feel the weight of the earth above them, and the long hours spent underground. It's a heavy image, physically and emotionally. Hine’s work reminds me a little bit of Käthe Kollwitz; both captured the working classes with an honest and sympathetic eye, both artists using their mediums to tell a story, to bear witness, and to spark change. It’s a reminder that art can be both beautiful and powerful.